From: Megan Koeth Date: September 11, 2025 Subject: The Division Of Public Safety Newsletter
Happy National Preparedness Month!
September is National Prepardness Month, a reminder of the importance of being ready for the unexpected. Emergencies can happen anytime, whether it is severe weather, a power outage, or another disruption, and having a plan makes all the difference. Resources from Ready.gov highlight simple steps like making an emergency kit, creating a communication plan with family or roommates, and staying informed through alerts. For our CWRU community, this could mean knowing evacuation routes in campus buildings, signing up for Spartan Alert notifications, and keeping essentials like chargers, water, and medications handy. By taking small steps now, we strengthen our ability to look out for ourselves and each other.
Behind the Badge
with Sergeant Kristina Meyer
In this issue of Behind the Badge, we are excited to introduce Sergeant Kristina Meyer, who joined the Case Western Reserve University Police Department in February of this year. Sgt. Meyer brings with her seven years of law enforcement experience, including two years on the Special Response Team (SRT), two years specializing in Traffic Crash Investigation (TCI), and three years serving as a Field Training Officer (FTO). Her diverse background, adventurous spirit, and sense of humor make her a wonderful addition to our community!
To get to know Sgt. Meyer a little better outside of her uniform, we asked her a few fun questions:
If you could instantly master any hobby or skill, what would it be?
I would like to learn how to ride a unicycle.
What’s your go-to comfort food or favorite meal?
Any dessert, but my number one choice is ice cream.
If you could spend a day anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do?
I would go to one of the national parks that I haven’t been to and go hiking. I would especially like to go to Badlands National Park.
Stay tuned for next month’s Behind the Badge issue, where we’ll be featuring one of our amazing crisis response clinicians!
Want to be a safety pro? Watch ourRun. Hide. Fight. video! It’s quick, easy, and packed with lifesaving tips to keep you cool, calm, and prepared in an emergency. You’ll feel more confident knowing exactly what to do—plus, it’s kinda like a safety superhero training! So grab a few minutes, hit play, and be ready for anything. Safety first, fun second!
The Public Safety Suggestion Box Now Available Online!
The Division of Public Safety is committed to fostering a safe, supportive, and inclusive environment for everyone at Case Western Reserve University. To help us continually improve, we now offer an online suggestion box where students, faculty, and staff can share their ideas, feedback, and suggestions directly with our team.
Whether it’s a comment about campus safety, a recommendation for new initiatives, or constructive feedback on current services, your input is valued. Submissions can be made anonymously or with your contact information if you’d like a follow-up.
We encourage you to take a moment to let us know how we can better serve the CWRU community.
Safe Ride is here to help students, faculty, and staff get around campus safely during the evening hours. Running seven days a week from 6 p.m. to 3 a.m., Safe Ride offers a reliable and welcoming way to travel across campus after dark, so you can focus on your evening plans with peace of mind. Book your first ride today!
Service Area
The service area for the Safe Ride program is located on this map.
Request a Ride
There are three ways to request a Safe Ride between the hours of 6 p.m. and 3 a.m.
Safety is a shared responsibility at CWRU, and we’re here to help you be prepared. Safety 101 is our foundational session, covering essential personal safety strategies and campus emergency procedures, perfect for students, faculty, and staff who want to build confidence in everyday safety.
While Safety 201 offers advanced, hands-on training in life saving skills, including Run, Hide, Fight, bleeding control, adult CPR, and the use of AED cabinet equipment. These sessions give you the knowledge and confidence to respond effectively in emergencies, making our campus community safer for everyone.
Welcome back CWRU!
With the start of a new semester and the fall season ahead, we remain committed to creating a safe, supportive, and welcoming campus for all. As you return, you may notice some new faces within our division. We’ve expanded our team with the addition of new law enforcement officers, campus security officers, and staff who are here to support you. If you see them, take a moment to say hello and help us welcome them to the community.
Your safety is always our top priority, and with these additions, we are strengthening our ability to keep campus a safe and welcoming place for everyone. We encourage you to stay alert, look out for one another, and take advantage of the many safety resources available to you.
We’re excited to have you back on campus. Let’s make this a safe, successful, and memorable semester. Wishing you all a great start and a happy fall!
Did You Know? 🚦
Cleveland is famous for installing the world's first electric traffic light at the intersection of Euclid Avenue and East 105th Street on August 5, 1914, by the American Traffic Signal Company, using a system designed by James Hoge. A different, important innovation in traffic control was Garrett Morgan's patented three-position traffic signal in 1923, which added a "warning" phase and is considered a key precursor to modern traffic lights.
Division Whoa
In July 2025, our CWRU Safe Ride program completed 9,021 rides, covering more than 23,000 miles across campus and the surrounding area, and served 11,311 riders! Whether you’re heading to class, the library, or back to your residence, Safe Ride is dedicated to keeping our community moving and doing it safely.
Universal Self-Defense (US) is a 3-week program offered to the entire campus community. The class will give insight into how to deploy self-defense tactics against an aggressor and how to exit an unwanted situation safely. Open to all, participants will be guided through exercises designed to strengthen their ability to defend themselves and build confidence in their abilities.
Celebrate National Preparedness Month at the Health and Safety Fair!
Join the Division of Public Safety's Office of Emergency Management for the Health and Safety Fair on Friday, September 5, from 12–2 p.m. at Tinkham Veale University Center.
